預苦期（Lent）是指復活節前的四十日（不包括內中的六個主日），又稱為「四旬期」。每年的預苦期均開始於星期三的「聖灰日」（Ash Wednesday），今年的預苦期由 2 月 18 日開始。教會歷史中，信徒常在這段時間透過禁食、禱告與靈修操練，默想主耶穌在十字架上的受苦與犧牲，重新對齊自己的生命方向，預備心靈迎接復活節的盼望。
四十天的預苦期，源於主耶穌在曠野禁食四十日、接受試探的經歷。主耶穌作為神的兒子，並沒有動用祂的神能或神權去逃避試探，反而選擇完全順服父神的旨意，堅定站立在神的話語之上。魔鬼試探祂的真正目的，是要祂放棄十架的道路，以權力、捷徑和妥協來換取所謂的成功與平安；但主耶穌清楚知道，真正的救贖必須經過受苦，真正的生命必須經過捨己。祂一次又一次引用《申命記》的話，回應試探，表明祂是那位完全順服、為世人而來的彌賽亞。
因此，預苦期不單是回顧主耶穌的受難，更是邀請我們重新學習作門徒。主耶穌清楚地呼召我們：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。」（太 16:24）這不是一次性的屬靈決志，而是一個每天都要作出的生命選擇。捨己的真正意思，不是否定自我，而是把生命的焦點從「我」轉回「基督」。唯有當我們注目於耶穌，讓祂成為生命的中心，我們才有可能背起十字架，走那條看似艱難卻充滿生命力的道路。
教會鼓勵弟兄姊妹在這四十天中，可按需要選用教會所提供的靈修材料，透過三方面屬靈操練，更深思念基督的受苦、受死與復活。首先，透過默想神的話語，藉着誦讀與安靜思想經文，讓神的話進入心裡，成為生命的光與力量；不需追求速度，而是留意哪些字句特別觸動自己，並在禱告中求聖靈引導，讓神親自向我們說話。其次，專心禱告，因為禱告不是宗教儀式，而是與神的生命交流；我們可每天預留一段固定時間，即使只是 5–10 分鐘，安靜在主面前，向祂傾心吐意，也學習聆聽祂的聲音。最後，操練自省與悔罪，當我們思想基督所走的十架道路，不只是被祂的犧牲感動，更誠實面對自己的內心；悔改不是停留在自責，而是轉向神、重新選擇順服，讓基督的受苦天天更新我們生命的方向。
我們要記得，預苦期的重點不在於完成多少操練，而在於是否與主建立更親密的關係。聖經說：「聽命勝於獻祭，順從勝於公羊的脂油。」（撒上 15:22）當我們願意把時間、心思與生命交在主手中，這本身就是最蒙神喜悅的敬拜。願這個預苦期，成為我們重新得力、更新生命的旅程；也願我們在預備迎接復活節的同時，真實經歷那位為我們捨命、又帶來新生命的救主。
Preparing Our Hearts for the 40 Days of Lent
Lent is the forty-day season leading up to Easter (excluding Sundays), also known as the Lenten season. Each year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and this year it starts on February 18. Throughout church history, believers have used this season to engage in fasting, prayer, and spiritual disciplines, reflecting on Jesus Christ’s suffering and sacrifice on the cross. It is a time to realign our lives with God’s purposes and to prepare our hearts to welcome the hope of Easter.
The forty days of Lent are rooted in Jesus’ experience of fasting for forty days in the wilderness, where He faced temptation. Although Jesus is the Son of God, He did not rely on His divine power or authority to escape temptation. Instead, He chose complete obedience to the Father and stood firmly on the truth of God’s Word. The true aim of Satan’s temptation was to draw Jesus away from the way of the cross—to offer power, shortcuts, and compromise in exchange for what appeared to be success and peace. Yet Jesus knew that true redemption must pass through suffering, and true life must come through self-denial. By repeatedly quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy, He resisted every temptation, revealing Himself as the fully obedient Messiah who came for the sake of the world.
Therefore, Lent is not only a time to remember Christ’s suffering; it is also an invitation for us to relearn what it means to be His disciples. Jesus clearly calls us: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). This is not a one-time spiritual decision, but a daily choice we make in how we live. To deny ourselves does not mean self-rejection; rather, it means shifting the focus of our lives from “me” to Christ. Only when we fix our eyes on Jesus and allow Him to be the centre of our lives can we truly take up the cross and walk the path that may be challenging, yet full of life and hope.
The church encourages brothers and sisters to make use of the devotional materials provided by the church as needed during these forty days, and through three areas of spiritual practice, to reflect more deeply on Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. First, we meditate on God’s Word by reading and quietly reflecting on Scripture, allowing God’s Word to enter our hearts and become light and strength for our lives. There is no need to rush; instead, we pay attention to words or verses that particularly speak to us and, in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as God speaks personally to our hearts. Second, we practise focused prayer, recognizing that prayer is not a religious ritual but a living relationship with God. We can set aside a regular time each day—even just five to ten minutes—to be still before the Lord, pour out our hearts to Him, and learn to listen for His voice. Finally, we practise self-examination and repentance. As we reflect on the way of the cross that Christ walked, we are not only moved by His sacrifice but also invited to honestly face our own hearts. Repentance is not about remaining in self-blame, but about turning back to God and choosing obedience once again, allowing Christ’s suffering to renew and reshape the direction of our lives day by day.
We are reminded that the heart of Lent is not how many spiritual practices we complete, but whether we are drawing closer to the Lord. Scripture tells us, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). When we willingly offer our time, attention, and lives into God’s hands, this itself becomes worship that truly pleases Him.
May this season of Lent be a journey of renewed strength and transformed lives. And as we prepare to celebrate Easter, may we truly encounter the Saviour who gave His life for us and brings new life to all who follow Him.